Dating Advice From John Lasseter: Win A Girl With Anime

Add cartoon casanova to the list of John Lasseter’s accomplishments. In a new video, the chief creative officer of Pixar and Disney explained how he wooed his future wife, Nancy, with the help of animation.

To employ the “Lasseter Method,” you’ll first need to find an anime film that inspires you. Lasseter used Hayao Miyazaki’s directorial debut Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979). Then, all you have to do is show it to a woman and hope she likes it. Here’s how Lasseter explained his experience:

We went with a big group to dinner and I ended up back at my small Victorian flat in the Haight-Ashbury section of San Francisco. We were having fun and having a little party and stuff, and I pulled her aside and I showed her clips from this film. Because I wanted to see how she liked it because this movie had such a profound impact – and she loved it.

To appreciate this story even more, remember that back in 1985, when this momentous event occurred, showing anime to a woman wasn’t as easy as pulling out your smartphone. Lasseter would have had to turn on his tv, and then insert a Lupin VHS or laserdisc into the appropriate media player. All of this would have required time to accomplish, allowing for romantic tension to build between the young lovers.

Three years later, John and Nancy Lasseter were married, and they’ve since raised five boys together.

Lasseter recorded the story for the upcoming two-day theatrical release of Lupin III next month. The film is being distributed by Fathom Events and Eleven Arts, the latter of which is also qualifying A Silent Voice for Academy Award consideration.